We had another beautiful campground in La Conner, Washington. It was right on Kilket Bay which connects to Puget Sound. A nice beach area was within walking distance of our campsite.
The weather was nice, for the most part, with foggy mornings that cleared up by noon. The evenings were nice for taking walks and watching the sunset.
Deception Pass, Washington
Just across the bay from us and around the point was Deception Pass which opens into Puget Sound. This bridge is the only way to cross over to Whidbey Island by vehicle.
Deception Pass is a state park with scenic trails through old growth forest. Its rocky beaches are popular, especially on a sunny day.
Tree covered islands dot the bay, while waves crash over rocks.
Leaving Washington
On one of our last days in northern Washington, I captured one last photo of the illusive Mount Baker from a distance. It was covered with a cap cloud once again.
Mount Baker, Washington
Columbia River
Washington gave us a rainy day farewell, the same as its welcome. We crossed over the Columbia River into Oregon, stopping in the Portland, Oregon area. The Columbia River is very wide at this point and forms the border between Washington and Oregon.
Scenic Columbia River Gorge
I had another item on my bucket list–seeing Multnomah Falls. The rain cleared and the day was beautiful. To get there, we had to drive along the Columbia River. We took a wrong turn and discovered another waterfall–Horsetail Falls.
Horsetail Falls, Oregon
This 224 foot waterfall gets its name from Horsetail Creek and is right off the access road to US Hwy 84. Horsetail Falls is one of many waterfalls along the Columbia River Gorge.
Upper Horsetail Falls
Multnomah Falls, Oregon
I have wanted to see Multnomah Falls for a long time. The first time we tried, we couldn’t find parking. This time, we waited a short time and were able to find a parking spot. At the bottom of the falls is this historic stone lodge built in 1925.
Multnomah Falls Lodge
Multnomah Falls is part of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area under the protection of the U.S. Forest Service.
Multnomah Falls is 620 feet high. It’s the tallest waterfall in Oregon.
This is a year-round waterfall fed by underground springs.
The Multnomah Creek Bridge was built in 1914.
Multnomah Creek Bridge over Multnomah Falls
Here’s a short little video of the waterfalls.
Bend, Oregon
From Portland, Oregon, we headed further south to Bend, Oregon. We began to see autumn colors, and the nights got cooler. Not many people were left in the campground. It was emptying out for the winter.
This area had a wildfire within sight of our campground, so the air was thick with smoke. We didn’t go outside much because of the smoke. Here it is drier and more prone to fires.
Smoke from wildfires rise into the air creating a cloud.
Several rabbits hopped around our campsite. This black one was my favorite.
Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
From Bend, Oregon, we took a day trip to Crater Lake National Park. It was about a two-hour drive. This was another item on my bucket list. We had tried to see it years ago, but it was early spring and the roads were closed due to snow.
This was my first view of Crater Lake. The deep blue surprised me, even though I knew what to expect. This is the deepest lake in the United States. It is nearly 2,000 feet deep. There are no rivers that flow into or out of the lake and the water is very clear.
Wizard Island, the island you see here, is a volcano within a volcano. It is believed that Crater Lake was formed from a large volcano that collapsed, forming Crater Lake.
This chipmunk scrambled around the rocks. It is one of 70 species of mammals that live in the park.
We drove the Rim Drive around the entire lake. It is 33 miles long. We stopped at many different viewpoints on our way.
Vidae Falls was one of our stops. It is about 100 feet high and tumbles over rocks in several cascades. It was just a few steps from the roadway, so it was an easy hike.
The tiny island on this side of the lake is called Phantom Ship. Its tall craggy rocks and shape give it the appearance of a ship when silhouetted.
Central Oregon
We swung over to the coast after leaving Bend, Oregon, and stayed in Florence, Oregon. We drove a few miles inland to see some fall color in the trees on Hwy 126 going toward Eugene.
We took a side road at the town of Mapleton, a cute town situated along the Siuslaw (See-you-slaw) River.
Mapleton, Oregon
Along the river, the yellow alders, cottonwoods and maple trees created a beautiful scene reflecting on the water.
Pacifica, California
After a few more stops while on our way south, we reached Pacifica, California, near San Francisco. Our campground was right on the ocean. The waves are something I never tire of seeing.
I also loved watching the sunset. A lot of the campers would come out in the evening to watch the sun setting over the ocean. It’s a nice ending to the day.
Pelicans in flight
The Pacific Northwest has so much beauty. During our six months of travel during the late spring, summer and early fall, we visited five national parks, one national monument, eight waterfalls, three lighthouses, several museums and one new country. It has been one of my favorite places to visit.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.” Psalm 104:1-2 ESV
Blaine, Washington, where our northernmost campground was located, is nearly to the Canadian border. While we were there, we took one day to visit Vancouver, British Columbia. Our first stop was the Peace Arch which is a park that straddles the United States and Canadian border.
A sixty-seven foot white arch represents the peace between the two countries. The arch represents the longest undefended boundary in the world. It was constructed to commemorate the end of the war of 1812.
The Peace Arch, United States side
Each side has a flower bed representing its flag. Over 55,000 flowers are planted yearly in this seven-acre park. The USA side is inscribed with the words, “Children of a common mother.”
American flag in flowers
On the Canadian side, “Brethren dwelling together in unity” is inscribed over the arch.
Canadian side of the archCanadian flag in flowers
On the Canadian side is a totem pole. This particular one represents the history of the Haida people.
Totem pole
In the Peace Arch Park there is a monument where the borders meet. We stood with one foot in one country and one foot in the other.
Border monument
Over half a million people visit this park every year. Its beautiful grounds are perfect for family gatherings, picnics and weddings.
Gardens in the Peace Arch Park
Even though it was September when we visited, flowers still bloomed.
We enjoyed seeing the Japanese garden section of the park. It was a beautiful place to relax.
After leaving the Peace Arch Park, we had to go through Border Control. There was nothing friendly and peaceful about that encounter. The young border agent saw our Texas license and must have assumed all Texans carry an arsenal with them. She started questioning us about guns.
Do you own any? What kind? How many? Where do you store them? As a parting shot, she said, “You know, we think a lot differently about guns here. Only law enforcement and we (Border Control) are allowed to have guns. If we searched your vehicle and found guns, you would go to jail.”
Of course, we assured her we already knew about Canada’s strict gun laws. The lecture seemed a bit unfriendly for a Canadian “welcome.”
Vancouver BC
Look alike apartment buildings in Vancouver, BC
After more than an hour, we reached Vancouver. While crossing the bridge over the Fraser River, we spied the geodesic dome which houses the Science World at TELUS World of Science.
Vancouver has a space needle too. The Space Tower is Vancouver’s version of the Seattle Space Needle.
Space Tower in Vancouver, BC
Vancouver’s streets are quite narrow. I was glad Ray was driving. We found the Vandusen Botanical Garden, but the parking lot was full. We slowly crept through until we found someone leaving. I jumped out to save the spot while Ray backed into it.
We stopped at the Visitors’ Center, (or is it Centre?) got a map, and headed out into the fifty-five acre garden. It was the weekend which meant that there was live music and live art painting demonstrations. The first thing we saw was this huge lily pond.
These Hibiscus flowers blooming by the edge of the pond were so bright and colorful.
Hibiscus
The rose garden was a beautiful spot. Being late summer, I thought the flowers might all be bloomed out, but there were still many roses in bloom. I didn’t see one aphid on any of them, nor did I see any leaf mold.
Rose GardenTea RoseHybrid Tea Rose
The rose garden had a rock archway which led into other parts of the garden.
Archway in Rose Garden
We walked along miles of pathways, it seemed, and saw many varieties of flowers, shrubs and trees. Dahlias were everywhere.
Dahlias
This garden displays plants from all over the world. It has an extensive collection of plants native to British Columbia.
Glory Bush
These two tone dahlias were some of my favorites.
Dahlias
The extensive lawns made a beautiful setting against the flowering borders.
Yellow Blooming Scotch broom tree
Vancouver has a temperate oceanic climate. It is one of the warmest cities in Canada. The summer months are typically dry and modestly warm. It was a beautiful day when we were there.
This Scottish Shelter is in the Heather section of the park. It was a nice shady place to sit out of the sun.
We have always enjoyed ferns ever since we had a fern garden terrarium when we were first married.
Hart’s Tongue Fern
Hydrangeas are another favorite of mine. They look like one big flower, but they are really comprised of many smaller flowers grouped together into one.
Hydrangea
This Grotto was a little spooky. However, during the Festival of Lights, it is lit up with twinkling lights.
The Grotto leads to other parts of the garden
The VanDusen Botanical Gardens was developed as a public garden using an old golf course.
Gazebo
I used my phone app to identify all kinds of unfamiliar plants.
Showy Stonecrop
Not only did we see many different flowers, but we also saw many kinds of trees. This twisted oak tree with the moss-covered trunk was interesting.
This catalpa tree gave us a shady place to get out of the sun.
Northern Catalpa Tree
The camera doesn’t show it too well, but this tree trunk had many different colors.
Even with a map, we got confused about where we were in the park. I think we saw about three-quarters of it. But by then, our feet and legs were tired.
We had quite a ways to walk to our truck, so we headed back by way of this pathway. We had much more we wanted to see in Vancouver.
Bloedel Conservatory
Our next stop in Vancouver was the Bloedel Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park. It sits on Vancouver’s highest point in the city.
The grounds of the park are beautifully landscaped. It makes a perfect setting for wedding photos. In fact, we saw a beautiful east Indian wedding party getting their wedding photos taken while we were there.
Sunken gardens of Queen Elizabeth Park
The park has a sunken garden below the Conservatory.
Steps leading down to Sunken Gardens
The Conservatory dome is 70 feet high and covers about a quarter of an acre. It was the first large triodetic dome structure in Canada.
Dome of Bloedel Conservatory
The dome houses more than 500 species of plants from around the world. The Conservatory uniquely houses three separate climate zones under one roof.
Snake Plant, Date Palm and Asparagus Fern inside the dome.
The temperature remains at a constant 64 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit year round. It was humid inside, but not unpleasant.
Waterfall
The Conservatory is also home to more than 100 colorful birds. The birds are used to humans and don’t mind posing for a photo.
Scarlet Macaws
Besides waterfalls, there are water features throughout such as this koi pond.
Koi pond
The birds are not kept in cages. They fly wherever they wish. Sometimes they seem to beg for you to take their picture, like this colorful parakeet. He flew in front of the Macaws when I was trying to get their picture.
This bird seemed to be saying, “Look at me!”
The birds are not the only colorful things in the conservatory. There were flowers, plants with colorful leaves, ferns and palms everywhere.
It was almost a sensory overload of where to look next. We crept along slowly so we could stop and see everything. So many beautiful plants were crowded into a very small space.
Pink Mums and various other plants
There were many colorful leaves like this coleus plant.
Coleus
These elephant ear plant leaves were huge. I can see where they get their name.
The patterns in the leaves and flowers were so unique.
Silver-nerve Plant
Some of my favorite flowers were the lilies. The colors on these are just beautiful.
Lilies
There’s a mouse population in the Conservatory. They got inside the Conservatory many years ago looking for a warm place to live. Since then, the Conservatory has embraced them and decided they are an important part of the ecosystem. As they have no predators, they are quite bold. This one made an appearance when we were there.
Mouse in the Conservatory
Chico and Pedra are double yellow-headed Amazon parrots. Each pair of birds seem to have their own “place” where they hang out.
We saw many uniquely shaped flowers like this silver-vase plant.
Silver vase plant
And like this Brazilian plume flower.
Brazilian-plume
Where ever we turned, there was some unusual plant, tree or flower.
Ti-plant
These staghorn ferns were familiar because Ray had one long ago that hung on a wall in our home.
Staghorn fern
As we were about to leave, we saw this beautiful white macaw. The gentleman who was holding him told us that these birds live a long time–like 40 to 60 years.
Cockatoo
This bird flitted around and finally settled so I could get his picture. I think it is some kind of oriole.
Black headed oriole (I think)
The variety of colorful plants, flowers and birds that God has created is just amazing.
As you can see, this place was a fun place to visit. Although they may not compare to Butchart Gardens, we thought these two botanical gardens were a nice substitute. Butchart Gardens would have cost us hundreds of dollars to visit, whereas, these cost only a few dollars to visit.
Flowering plants line the walkways in the Conservatory
Since the Conservatory is on the highest spot in the city, we were able to get a photo of the surrounding city from there. Vancouver’s population is more than 2.6 million people.
We had one more place to visit in Vancouver that day. To get there, we had to drive into the heart of the city, find a parking garage, and walk several blocks. Although the ceiling in the parking garage was very low, we managed to find a parking spot. Finding our way out by way of my phone proved to be more difficult. GPS took us the long way up scores of stairs to the ground level. We passed this monument on our way, which proved to be crucial in finding our way back.
Downtown Vancouver, BC
Gastown
This steam clock was our next destination. It is located in Gastown, the original site of Vancouver in the 1870s. A series of steam pipes run underground to provide heat to the city. Every hour this steam clock plays the Westminster chimes and sounds the hours with steam whistles. It was one of two in the world when it was constructed.
Waiting for the steam clock to sound off
Turn up your sound and listen to the video. It doesn’t quite sound right because one of the whistles wasn’t working. You can hear Ray trying to fill in the missing notes.
Steam Clock plays Westminster Chimes with steam whistles.
We lucked out that day. The clock went off once, but because the clock was running fast, the clock caretaker set the time back 12 minutes and we heard it go off a second time.
Finding our way back to the parking garage was a trick because I left the address of the parking garage in the truck. A friendly young Canadian man tried to help by pointing us in the direction of a couple of parking garages. Just at the right moment, I spied the monument we passed on the way out, and recognized the street that led to our parking garage.
No that isn’t a flock of birds around an non-existent billboard. It is a weird art sculpture at the border.
We had a completely different experience crossing the border back into the USA. The two border agents were from Texas and greeted us warmly as fellow Texans. They were friendly and welcoming. It was nice to be back in the US.
“For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are.” Romans 8:19 NLT
While staying in Birch Bay, Washington, we took a drive one day to see Mount Baker. On our way, we stopped at the Mount Baker Visitors’ Center, built by the CCC in the 1940s. Situated in the town of Glacier, it is 24 miles from the mountain.
The road to Mount Baker took us past a ski resort and ended at Artists’ Point. From there, we could see Mount Baker on one side and Mount Shuksan on the other. The road is winding and steep.
Road to Artists Point, Mt. Baker
Artists’ Point is a perfect place to get a view of Mount Baker, except on the day we were there. It was covered in clouds.
Trail at Artists Point, Mt. Baker
I hiked the trail for a while, hoping the clouds would clear and reveal the mountain. But that was not to be. Both mountains were shrouded by clouds
Flowers at Artists Point, Mt. Baker
The berries on the Sitka mountain-ash bushes contrasted brightly against the gray mountain. Disappointed, I hoped I might have another chance to see Mount Baker.
Mt. Baker covered in clouds
There are eleven glaciers on Mount Baker. Table Mountain Glacier is visible from this viewpoint.
Mt. Baker viewpoint
Mount Baker, at 10,781 feet, is the highest peak in the North Cascades. It is the second most active glacier-covered volcano. It is also one of the snowiest places in the world.
Mt. Baker
From the trail, I could see Baker Lake in the distance. It is believed to be formed much like Spirit Lake was formed. Mud, rock and water flowed from Mount Baker during an eruption that blocked the Baker River and created a lake.
Artists Point looking toward Baker Lake in distance
I got another chance to try to see Mount Baker. On our second trip, the clouds again formed over the mountains in the afternoon. But this time, we could clearly see Mount Shuksan.
Mt. Shuksan
On our way to Artists’ Point, we saw this interesting twisted rock formation.
Rock formation on road to Artists Point, Mt. Baker
The clouds lifted a little on Mount Baker as the afternoon wore on. The summit was almost visible.
An interesting fact about Mount Baker is that in 1975 there were signs of “renewed volcanic activity, ” according to the USGS. Monitoring was increased, but then it was dismantled. (?) The USGS says that it is a high priority to enhance the monitoring systems in the future. (It’s still an active volcano with regular steam eruptions!)
Mt Baker close up view
Later, a cap cloud formed over Mount Baker. The sun started peeking out beneath the clouds.
Cap cloud over Mount Baker
As the sun crept across the landscape, Mount Shuksan lit up.
Mount Shuksan from Artists’ PointMount Shuksan with a cap cloud above it
As we turned to drive home from Artists’ Point, we drove by this lake. We were there at the perfect moment to capture the photo of the day.
Nooksack Falls
On our way back home, we stopped at Nooksack Falls. It is a beautiful spot just off the highway.
Nooksack FallsUpstream from Nooksack FallsNooksack Falls downstream
Flower Picking in Mount Vernon, Washington
While we were staying in Concrete, Washington, Ray wanted to meet Mark Ward, a Christian YouTuber. Ray found out that Mark’s wife has a flower business. Ray signed me up for an afternoon session where I got to choose and cut 10 flowers for $10. All the while, Ray was hoping that he would be able to meet Mark. It turned out to be a fun time for me. And, yes, Ray got to meet Mark.
We had some shopping to do before we headed home. We had to leave the flowers in the truck, so they wilted a bit before we got them home. But the next day, they perked right up again. I had to buy a vase at a thrift shop to show them off.
DahliaDahliaDahlia
Here’s the bouquet while the flowers were still a bit wilted. I’m not much of a flower arranger, but with these beautiful flowers, it was hard to go wrong. The flowers lasted for more than a week.
May the glory of the Lord endure forever; May the Lord rejoice in His works; He looks at the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smoke. Psalm 104:31-32
When we stayed near Concrete, Washington, in one of our Thousand Trails campgrounds, I considered it to be another one of the most beautiful campgrounds. We were among the tall trees in the Skagit River Valley of Washington state.
Grandy Creek Thousand Trails Campground, near Concrete, WA.Sunset at Grandy Creek Campground.
We were a few miles from the town of Concrete. Known as the gateway to North Cascades National Park, this town has a lot of historical character, such as these concrete silos at its entrance.
Town of Concrete, Washington
The first concrete plant in this town was built in 1905. Nearby was a limestone quarry. Today, it is a city park with a splash pad, playground, skate park and picnic area.
Skagit River next to Washington Highway 20
Highway 20 to North Cascades National Park goes right through Concrete and follows the Skagit River, a beautiful turquoise-blue waterway.
Skagit River
The Skagit River is also an important source of hydroelectric power for Washington. This is one of a series of powerhouses we passed on our way into North Cascades National Park. Hydro-electric power is of interest, especially to Ray, who worked at a hydro plant for several years.
Gorge Dam Powerhouse
There’s only one main road through this national park, which is scenic Highway 20. It continues through the park and through the rest of Washington, all the way to the Idaho border.
A description of the North Cascades is “mountains jutting sharply upward.” The mountains rise from 400 feet at the Skagit River to over 9,000 feet at Mt. Goode. With over 300 glaciers and multiple snowfields, North Cascades is the most glaciated area in the USA other than Alaska. However, not many were visible when we were there in late summer.
Mountains jut up steeply in North Cascades National Park
There were many wildfires in the park and surrounding areas on our first visit, so the skies were smoky.
The Skagit River and its tributaries, the largest watershed that drains into Puget Sound, is one of many watersheds in the North Cascades. Dams like the one shown, not only provide hydro-electric power, but also flood control to areas downstream.
Gorge High Dam
Gorge High Dam was built in 1961. Upstream from it are the larger dams of Diablo and Ross. Gorge Dam, shown previously, fine tunes the flows from the upper dams.
Gorge High Dam on the Skagit River
Fine silt from glaciers grinding against rocks washes into the lakes and rivers. This “rock flour” is suspended in the water and refracts the light to give the lake its blue-green color.
Lake behind Gorge High Dam
The steep mountainsides are perfect for the making of many waterfalls.The Cascade mountain range gets its name from the numerous waterfalls, and extends from northern California to British Columbia.
Gorge Creek Falls?
We visited in late summer when the waterfalls were at a minimum. There was a waterfall on each side of the road, so I’m not sure which one is Gorge Creek Falls.
Or, Gorge Creek Falls No. 2?
These rocks covered with thick green moss were really amazing and soft to the touch.
The next two photos were taken at Diablo Lake Overlook in nearly the same place. One was on our first visit when it was smoky, and the other on a clear day.
Diablo Lake Overlook
Diablo Lake was formed from Diablo Dam which was constructed in 1930. At that time, it was the tallest dam in the world rising 389 feet. Notice the islands in the lake.
Diablo Lake Overlook
A close up of the islands in the middle of the lake made me realize the size of Diablo Lake, and how high the overlook. Though the islands look small from the viewpoint, they are home to full size conifer trees.
Islands in Diablo Lake
Diablo Lake is just one of 500 lakes and ponds scattered throughout the mountain landscape of the North Cascades.
We drove further into the mountains until we were nearly to Washington Pass before we turned around and headed back home. It was a beautiful drive, in spite of the smoke.
For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you. Isaiah 54:10
Highway 5 cuts through the western part of Washington state, leading to Seattle. Any main roads near Highway 5 and surrounding cities can have heavy traffic almost anytime of day. To get to Fall City, a small town east of Seattle, and to avoid heavy traffic, we had to trick our GPS into taking us further east. The route we took was on back country roads through many small towns. The drive was really beautiful and much more relaxing.
Country store in small town of Washington
One of Washington’s main industries is lumber. We saw many acres of forested land. Where the trees had already been harvested, we saw many acres replanted with new trees.
New trees planted to replace the harvested ones.
Snoqualmie Falls
It was just a short drive from our campground in Fall City to Snoqualmie Falls, one of Washington’s most popular scenic attractions. This two acre park includes an observation deck overlooking the 270 foot waterfalls. There is free parking and a pedestrian bridge crossing the highway to the park.
Pedestrian bridge from parking lot to park.
The park has information about the history of the waterfalls and the underground power plant. An underground power plant was built in 1890. The original generators are still functioning today.
It would be fun to stay in the Lodge at the edge of the cliff. At night time, colored lights light up the falls. The Lodge also houses a nice gift shop and restaurant.
From the top observation deck, we could see the waterfalls and the outlet for the underground power plant.
It was late summer when we visited and the water flow was low. In spring time, the water falls can cover from one side to the other in a huge torrent.
There’s a mile and a half trail to the bottom of the falls, or one can drive a couple of miles to a parking lot at the bottom. From the bottom on our way to the falls, we passed the penstock carrying water diverted from the river to the power house below.
Penstock for lower power house.
We walked by the power house to a catwalk along the river leading to another observation point.
Lower power houseSnoqualmie Falls from the lower observation point.
No one is allowed down along the riverbank because of the danger of quickly rising river levels. These two power plants supply power to the surrounding areas.
Afternoon light on tree by Snoqualmie River
Monroe, Washington
We moved to Monroe, Washington, just a short distance from Fall City. This campground was along a river. Washington has no shortage of rivers. In the evening, we took a walk down to the river. In one direction, the sun was fading on the peaceful river.
Skykomish River, Monroe, Washington
In the other direction and later on, the sun lit up the trees in autumn colors while the jagged peaks of the Cascades could be seen jutting up in the distance.
Skykomish River, Monroe, Washington
While we were in Monroe, we drove up Highway 2 beyond Stevens Pass to Lake Wenatchee. It’s only a few miles from Leavenworth. Homes line most of the lake edge, but we were able to find a beach access from Lake Wenatchee State Park with a nice walkway clear to the water’s edge.
It was a windy day, so not many people were out enjoying the water.
There was a roped off swimming area. A couple of islands with tall trees made me want to sail out and walk around on them.
Waves from the wind lap the shoreline.
Lake Wenatchee is such a pretty area. If it hadn’t been so cold and windy, we might have spent more time enjoying the scenery.
Skykomish, Washington
On our way home, we drove through the town of Skykomish, a Great Northern Railroad town. It’s a quaint little town.
Skykomish, a Great Northern Town
I liked the caboose-shaped road signs, and of course, the train in the background. The railroad was originally built to go from Montana to the Pacific Ocean.
Main Street is short, but today about 20 trains pass through this little town with shipments of products from all over the US, and even from foreign countries. Amtrak passes through twice a day, once from each direction, between Seattle and Chicago.
We enjoyed exploring the back roads near Fall City and Monroe, Washington. Soon we were off to another destination further north.
Make me know Your ways, Lord; Teach me Your paths. Psalm 25:4
Tacoma, Washington, is the location of the Pacific Bonsai Museum. Bonsai means “planted in a container.” In reality, it is an art form of growing and shaping trees in containers which takes years of patient care and skill. Since we both spent time in Japan, we have always loved this art form, even trying it ourselves. (Without much success.) Our visit to the Bonsai museum brought back memories of our days in Japan.
Hinoki Cypress
A Bonsai can be a single tree or several trees. Multiple shoots from the roots of a single tree can become individual trees.
Cedar
Although we think of Bonsai as a Japanese art, it originated in China many centuries before it became popular in Japan.
Hinoki cypress
Soil types and ratios are blended especially for these trees for optimal nutrition, moisture retention and aeration.
Mountain Hemlock
The Bonsai Museum is outdoors. There is a series of walled partitions which protect the plants and better display their forms.
In this one, the carved face in the pedestal is part of the art.
The trees are not all symmetrical. This adds to their beauty and uniqueness.
Before the bonsai is planted in its permanent container, it undergoes much pruning of its roots and branches to create the miniaturization of the tree.
The more twisted and gnarly the trunk, the more it makes the tree appear old. The oldest bonsai trees are over 800 years old.
This Bonsai is named “The Claw”
We enjoyed our stroll through the Bonsai Museum. If you are ever near Tacoma, Washington, be sure to visit this unique collection.
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:1-2
In 1980, Mt. St. Helens erupted. It is still considered an active volcano and is monitored carefully. It demonstrates to us how the earth can be transformed quickly by a catastrophic event.
We drove to the west entrance of the national monument on Highway 505. The wildflowers were blooming. This created a peaceful view of the mountain as we stopped along the way at a couple of viewpoints.
We tried to go to the end of the road to Johnston Ridge Observatory, but the road was closed for repairs. We could only go as far as Coldwater Lake. Apparently, the repairs are serious, in that, it isn’t expected to open until 2025. We stopped instead at Coldwater Lake where we found a picnic table to eat our lunch.
Coldwater Creek and Coldwater Lake. Notice the clear water.
After lunch, we went to the Coldwater Visitors’ Center where we listened to a Ranger talk. From the deck we had a clear view of the mountain and Coldwater Lake where we had just been.
Coldwater Visitors’ Center
Coldwater Lake was formed after the eruption when Coldwater Creek was blocked by debris. Looking at the vegetation growing around the mountain, one wouldn’t suspect that anything catastrophic had happened recently. Coldwater Lake is clear and blue. But after the blast, it was filled with volcanic debris and vegetative matter. Though it took several months, bacteria in the water cleared up the debris in a very short time.
Mt. St. Helens and Coldwater Lake From Coldwater Visitors’ Center
On our way out, we stopped at the Mt. St. Helens Forest Learning Center. From that viewpoint, we could see the debris channel where mud, water and ash flowed for several miles on the day of the eruption. Many trees have been planted in some of the blast areas. Today they are fully grown. Other areas were left alone to study the results of natural re-vegetation.
Debris flow and Mt. St. Helens in the background. Looking down river at the debris flow.
On another day, we drove to the backside of Mt. St. Helens to see Spirit Lake. The road there is an old forestry road. It is not bad, however, since it is paved the entire way. On that day, smoke from wildfires clouded the air.
Flowers bloom where the former blast occurred.
All of the trees near the mountain were laid flat when the blast occurred. Only the areas in the shadow of the surrounding hills were left standing. The trees which were blown into the lake formed a mat that covered 40% of the surface. Today, there is still a small area covered by floating logs.
Spirit Lake
Mt. St. Helens had a very cone-like shape before the eruption. This is the side of Mt. St. Helens that was blasted away during the eruption. It is very easy to distinguish Mt. St. Helens from the other mountains around because of its altered shape.
Mt. St. Helen from Spirit Lake viewpoint.
The natural outlet to Spirit Lake was blocked and the lake rose 200 feet. A tunnel had to be constructed to maintain the lake’s depth at a constant level.
Although there is a trail up a ridge to see a better view of Spirit Lake, we opted out.
Trail to the top of the hill.
Wildflowers were abundant when we were there. Can you see the butterfly?
Looking the other direction at Spirit Lake, one can still see the area of destruction from the blast decades later. However, there is also plenty of plant life that has grown back, and wildlife that have come back to live there.
On our way back home, we spotted a very familiar mountain peak in the distance–Mt. Rainier.
On our flight to Austin from Seattle, we once again got a view of this magnificent mountain.
Although this eruption happened decades ago, I’m still amazed at how the land has recovered. It’s hard to wrap my head around how much force was exerted that day to blow away half of the mountain.
“The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.” Psalm 97:5
One of the prettiest campgrounds we’ve been in was in Silver Creek, Washington. Our campsite was among an old growth forest.
Paradise Campground
The entrance to the campground overlooks a beautiful valley and Mayfield Lake. In the distance on clear days, we could see Mt. St. Helen and Mt. Rainier.
View from Paradise Campground of Mt. St. Helen in the distance
We were about an hour and a half from Mt. Rainier National Park. On one of our visits to the park, we stopped along the way to view Riffe Lake, a reservoir on the Cowlitz River.
Riffe Lake Scenic Viewpoint
Mt. Rainier National Park – Day 1
On our first visit, we entered the park through the Stevens Canyon Entrance. Not far from the entrance was Fall Creek. We stopped and took several photos of this pretty waterfall.
Fall Creek Waterfalls
This was our first good look at Mt. Rainier. At over 14,000 feet, this glaciated volcano and its surrounding land was the fifth national park to be created. We happened to see Mt. Rainier on a sunny day when it wasn’t covered in clouds.
Mt. Rainier
This park has plenty of scenic roads where valleys and tree-covered mountainsides are visible. It is a 21 mile drive from Stevens Canyon Entrance to the visitors’ center in the Paradise area.
Steep canyon valley in Mt. Rainier National Park
There is plenty of water run-off from the mountainsides and glaciers to create many beautiful waterfalls. This one is Stevens Creek Falls which we could see right from the road.
Stevens Creek Falls
With all that water, it is still amazing but not surprising to find out that there are over 400 mapped lakes in the park. This area shown below is called Reflection Lakes.
Reflection Lakes
We arrived at the Paradise area visitors’ center and found the parking lot was full and overflowing. People were parked along the road for quite a distance. We took a chance and drove around a bit until we found someone leaving the parking lot. It was a good spot, right in front of the visitors’ center.
Mt. Rainier from Paradise Visitors Center
After getting my National Park Passport book stamped, and buying a few postcards for sending to the grandkids, we set out to see if we could hike the trail to Myrtle Falls. What we encountered was ice and snow all over the trail. It was too hazardous for us to hike it that day.
Mt. Rainier glaciers
There are over 26 glaciers on Mt. Rainier. You can see some in the photo above. I noticed something on the mountain when I zoomed in. See if you can see it in the photo below.
Ski trail on Mt. Rainier
Our exit from the park that day was through the Nisqually Exit, which meant that we saw different views. We stopped at Naranda Falls and I hiked the trail to the bottom.
Narada Falls from top
The trail was pretty steep and muddy, but the view was worth it. This is what it looked like from below.
Narada Falls from bottom
Mt. Rainier National Park – Day 2
On our second day going into the park, we stopped again at Fall Creek to experiment with different settings on the camera. The goal was to get the falls to show more motion which gives the water a blurred look. I think we achieved it!
Fall Creek
Our excursion that day was to ride the gondola at Crystal Mountain. It is located on the east side of Mt. Rainier outside the park limits. Since it was cloudy when we arrived, we killed some time inside the park shooting photos and eating lunch, hoping that the clouds would go away. They didn’t.
The twelve minute ride to the top of the mountain took us over 2,400 vertical feet. Despite the clouds, the scenery was fantastic.
I was glad I wore my puffy jacket that day. The temperatures at the top were quite chilly.
Snow at the top of Crystal Mountain Gondola ride
We went to the Tower 16 Gift Shop to warm up and get some hot tea and a snack. While we were there, we watched the gondolas as they glided overhead.
Tower 16 gift shop
When we drove home that day, we saw this beautiful creek–Nickel Creek.
Nickel Creek
Mt. Rainier Park – Day 3
On our third visit to the park, we stopped on our way to visit this cute little church in the town of Elbe. This German church started in settlers’ homes until the church building was completed in 1906. Today services are still held monthly. In the tradition of the early pastors, the bishop arrives riding on a bicycle.
Mt. Rainier National Park has a timed entry policy between 7 am and 3 pm. Despite the timed entrance, it still took an hour and 7 minutes to get through the Nisqually entrance. This photo was taken later on after the traffic was gone.
Nisqually Entrance to Mt. Rainier NP
Our first stop on our third visit was at the historic Longmire area. Longmire is the original location of the park headquarters. It now houses a museum. Outside the museum is a tree log with historic dates from 1293. This tree was alive when Lewis and Clark visited the Pacific northwest. Amazing!
Log outside Longmire Museum Mt. Rainier National Park
A scenic loop off the main road took us to a viewpoint of Nisqually glacier. This glacier has advanced and retreated over the years. In years of advance, it can be seen from the bridge shown in the photo. It can advance or retreat as much as three feet in a day.
Nisqually Glacier as seen from Ricksecker Point
The views of Mt. Rainier from the scenic loop are some of the best.
Looking down canyon from Nisqually glacier, we can see the stream below. Pacific silver firs dominate the landscape at this elevation of 4,000 feet.
Looking down the canyon from Nisqually glacier.
We drove again to the visitors’ center in the Paradise area where we again found a prime parking spot. This visit was different from our first visit. By now, the snow and ice had melted and the trail to Myrtle Falls was clear.
Trail to Myrtle Falls
The trail is .9 miles round trip and moderately challenging because of the steepness. It is a 100 foot elevation gain, but it starts at over 5,000 feet. There is a bridge across the creek with a beautiful view of the mountain.
View from bridge at Edith Creek at Myrtle Falls
There was a fat coney, sometimes what is called a rock badger, near the creek. He didn’t seem to be very shy.
A steep pathway leads down to a viewpoint below the falls. It’s the best place to view Myrtle Falls. This was special to me because I recently painted this in a paint-along from an online artist. I wanted to see it for myself.
As we walked back to the parking lot, we stopped to see many of the wildflowers like mountain heather and giant white fawn lilies.
Pink mountain heatherGiant white fawn liliesWildflowers along trail to Myrtle Falls
The views from the pathway back to the parking lot were stunning and the weather that day was perfect.
Pathway back from Myrtle Falls
We also stopped in to see the historic Paradise Inn constructed in 1916. This reminded me somewhat of the hotel in Yellowstone, in that it has a large open timber frame. The large solid wood table in the main lounge is made of cedar logs.
Paradise Inn built in 1916Lounge in Paradise Inn has open timber frame and a massive cedar table 20 feet long.Cedar table made of five cedar logs 20 feet long
As we drove out of the park for the last time, we got one last look at the mountain framed by the beautiful trees and wildflowers.
Indian Paint Brush and Yarrow flowers of Mt. Rainier
Mt. Rainier National Park is my number two favorite national park. (Yosemite still remains my all-time favorite.) Mt. Rainier has so much variety–the mountain, the waterfalls, the forests, the scenic drives, the historical buildings–and much more. I feel like we could spend many more days there learning about and exploring this beautiful national park.
“Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.” — Psalm 36:6
Olympic National Park is a huge park covering almost a million acres. Highway 101 makes a loop around three sides of it. We drove the western half of the loop. There are very few towns along the way. After a two hour drive, our first stop was the Hoh Rainforest entrance. Even though we left early in the morning, by the time we got there, the parking lot was almost full.
Hoh Rainforest
After getting my National Park Passport book stamped, we toured the visitors’ center, listened to a ranger talk, and then ate our lunch. The rangers suggested we hike the “Hall of Mosses Trail” first. It’s an easy .8 mile loop that starts near the visitors’ center.
A drop of rain on my lens on Hall of Mosses Trail.
It rained while we were there, as you would expect in a rainforest, but the rain was sporadic. I thought a drop or two of rain on my camera lens in the photos was only appropriate.
Trees with hanging moss and large ferns on the Hoh Rainforest Hall of Mosses Trail.
This lush forest with huge ferns and moss covering the tree trunks gave the feeling of being in another world. This rainforest gets over 200 inches of rain a year. The Park Ranger, who is 6′ 4″, held a rake above his head to give us an idea of how much 200 inches really is.
The Ranger joked that perhaps the legend of Big Foot came about from someone seeing a tree in the shape of a man walking, with moss hanging down (as his fur). The mossy trees could certainly give off that kind of vibe.
Big Foot or a tree?
The Ranger told us of a scientist who got permission to take all the moss off of a large tree. The scientist dried the moss and weighed it. It weighed about 2,000 pounds or about a ton. What was sad to learn, is that the tree died. It turns out that the moss protects the tree, and the tree provides an environment for the moss to grow and thrive.
Two trees, or one?
Fallen logs thick with moss provide soil for seedlings to grow forming a “tree nursery.” The photo below shows trees growing out of a fallen log.
Trees grow out of fallen log in a “tree nursery”
As the fallen log decays and rots away, the tree continues to grow forming a “cave” from the roots, like the one below.
Tree root “cave”
This tree arch was of special interest to the tourists that day.
Tree arch on Hall of Mosses Trail.
The thing that got everyone’s interest was this banana slug. Although I dislike slugs of any kind, this one was begging for attention.
Banana slug
The rainforest was fascinating, but it was early in the day and we were only 80 miles from Port Angeles where the road to Hurricane Ridge began. Instead of taking two long drives to see Olympic National Park, we decided to make it a really long day and see as much as we could all at once.
Crescent Lake
On our way to Port Angeles, the road winds around Crescent Lake. Surrounded by trees and mountains, this lake is really stunning. This lake is within the boundaries of the park.
Crescent Lake
Hurricane Ridge
After stopping in Port Angeles for a few groceries, we drove up the road to Hurricane Ridge. I was worried that it would be socked in with clouds at the top. We did, in fact, drive through some pretty thick fog on the way up before we came out into the sunshine at the top.
We drove through thick fog to get to the top.
What we saw at the top of the mountain was like something out of The Sound of Music. It’s like being in the Swiss Alps of Washington. The mountain range in the distance is the Olympic Mountains, and one of the peaks is Mount Olympus.
Hurricane Ridge
In 2023, the Visitors’ Center at Hurricane Ridge burned down. The cause was never determined. Currently there are temporary facilities on tractor trailers.
The Olympic Mountain Range
Unlike other mountains in Washington, these were not formed from volcanoes. Rather, it is believed they are made out of sand and mud from the ocean floor that was piled up against the coastline of Washington from the submergence of the tectonic plate.
Mount Olympus is almost 8,000 feet high with 184 alpine glaciers.
We hiked a short ways from the parking lot to the top of the hill to see the other side. There were still patches of snow on the ground.
View of the other side of Hurricane RidgeView of other side of Hurricane RidgeView of other side of Hurricane Ridge
Crescent Lake
After driving back down into Port Angeles from Hurricane Ridge, we ate a delicious dinner at Kokopeli Grill. We drove back the way we came, which took us around Crescent Lake again.
Evening on road around Crescent Lake
Being so far north, the sky was light until 10:30 at night. We got home around 11:00 pm after a very long day. It was very worthwhile.
Sunset over Crescent Lake
“O Lord my God, how great You are!” Psalm 104:1 “Mountains rose and valleys sank to the levels You decreed.” Psalm 104:8 “The trees of the Lord are well cared for.” Psalm 104:16 “Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, You inspire shouts of joy. ” Psalm 65:8
If you divide Washington state in half crosswise, Ocean City lies about halfway, right on the Pacific Ocean. It’s a very small town. Our RV park had its own pathway to the beach.
Ocean City RV park pathway to the ocean.
I checked out the beach right away, even though it was cold and windy. Driftwood structures are common on these beaches because of the abundance of driftwood.
Driftwood art
The beach is very long and it would have been hard to find the pathway back if not for this pole by the entrance.
One afternoon I tried doing some ” en plein air” painting. I got sand in everything, including my painting. It was too cold to stay out for long. It was a cold, windy day.
On another day, I explored closer to the water and saw these interesting designs of sea foam on the beach.
I also found this driftwood log. Upon closer examination, I noticed something strange on the backside of the log.
On the back of the driftwood log in the shade were hundreds of muscles clinging to the log. (At least, I think that’s what they were.) I think this log may have rolled up during high tide and left these poor muscles stranded.
Grays HarborLighthouse
One afternoon, we drove across Grays Harbor to the south peninsula to see Grays Harbor Lighthouse. It is the tallest lighthouse in Washington with 135 steps to the lantern room. We opted out of climbing the stairs to the top.
Grays Harbor Lighthouse
The lighthouse is quite a distance from the ocean. This is due mostly to the jetty system at the entrance of the harbor. The land has built up between the lighthouse and the ocean until the lighthouse is now 3,000 feet from the ocean at high tide.
There are 27 lighthouses in Washington state. After seeing this one, we only have 24 more to visit!
Stairs inside Grays Harbor Lighthouse
While we were in Ocean City, we visited Olympic National Park. That will have to be in a separate blog soon to come.
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
